NAB to probe all mega projects initiated during incumbent govt’s tenure

• Seeks contract documents of big projects to check transparency

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to probe all mega projects initiated during the ongoing tenure of the incumbent government and sought records of contract documents of these projects from federal and provincial governments concerned, it was learnt reliably.

The accountability watch-dog (NAB), in a bid to control the menace of corruption, will look into the contract documents of worth projects billions of rupees including LNG import, metro bus projects, motorways, power projects etc. Furthermore, to gauge the transparency in the award of these projects, NAB has sought necessary records including the contract documents of these projects from governments concerned.

Moreover, NAB has forwarded a pro forma to the federal and provincial governments. The pro forma contains 42 points, asking the concerned government to answer the questions in yes or no.

Documents available with Pakistan Today disclose that NAB has sought provision of documents under section 33B of NAO, 1999, and Cabinet Division has asked the ministries and divisions concerned, including federal and provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan to furnish the records.

The bureau has desired the provision of contract documents of those projects which are worth above Rs50million.

Sources said that following the NAB’s request to Cabinet Division regarding the provision of contract documents of big projects, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi led government is in a fix over the entire situation. PM Abbasi is himself allegedly involved in violating the procedure in the award of LNG terminal contract to ENGRO company.

Furthermore, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s name is in Metro Multan case.

Sources said that NAB has sought records of the projects including LNG import with Britain and European companies, metro bus projects, motorways, and power projects etc., launched during the last four and a half years.  All regulatory authorities including National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) etc. have been requested to respond immediately, they added.

Documents also reveal that Cabinet Division has asked the heads of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), OGRA, PTA, NEPRA and Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) to furnish a report of the contract documents to the division immediately.

The division desired to provide the report on prescribed format on contract documents of monetary value amounting to Rs50 million for further necessary action. In case the information is not relevant, a “NIL” may be forwarded, said Cabinet Division’s letter dated January 5, 2018.

Earlier on December 26, 2017, NAB had requested the Cabinet Division for the provision of documents under section 33B of NAO 1999. Similarly, in another letter to secretaries of Cabinet Division, Planning Commission, chief secretaries of Punjab, KP, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, and federal secretaries of all ministries/divisions, NAB director general (awareness and prevention division), besides asking for contract documents of monetary value of Rs50 million and above particular to public sector organisation, also requested these top officers to conduct a review on their own and ensure that all contracts of Rs50 million and above have been sent to the respective regional /headquarter offices of NAB.

“This is issued in pursuance of section 33B NAO 1999 (mandatory reporting of public contracts) after approval of competent authority,” read NAB’s letter issued on December 18, 2017.

According to NAB’s checklist under section 33B of NAO, it is mandatory for the federal and provincial governments, ministries/divisions and their subsidiaries, to fill the 42 point pro forma and provide a record of all those projects whose worth is Rs50million and above to the bureau.

The bureau has raised questions about the procedure and award of big projects to some companies. NAB in its pro forma has asked about the advertisements, pre-qualification, PEPRA rules, technical and financial bids draft etc.

Sources also said that incumbent NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has been trying his best to control the menace of corruption. He has been trying to change the image of the bureau and has taken a remarkable step to improve the working and efficiency of the bureau.

Furthermore, NAB chairman has warned officials of bad consequences in case of any mistake in the enquiry of corruption cases.